Cape Town Tours

Cape Town

Known as the mother city in the Western Cape, an area which is regarded as one of the most beautiful regions in the world. Cape Town is a rare cultural gem, resulting from the amalgamation of Indonesian, French, Dutch, British and German settlers, the local Bushman and Hottentot tribes and the Bantu tribes from the north.

The impressive presence of Table Mountain, flanked by the legendary Devil’s Peak and historical Signal Hill, stands proudly above the

Cape Riviera

city. Beautiful white sandy beaches along a peaceful coastline frame the Cape Peninsula, which is famed for its unique floral kingdom, bountiful rivers, and dams and magnificent countryside. The surrounding area extends far into the wine lands, green in summer and red-gold in autumn.

The city boasts a multitude of entertainment, ranging from outdoor activities and adventures in the sun to a roaring night life under neon signs. The vast range of shopping opportunities includes haggling with shop holders at Greenmarket Square Flea Market, as well as breezing through sophisticated and stylish shopping malls. The huge variety of restaurants reflects the multi-cultured history of the Cape and caters for everyone’s taste, from fast-food outlets and casual to the elegant.Le Franschoek Hotel

Cape Point

The city provides a setting for many scenic wonders, magnificent seascapes and panoramic vistas. The beautiful coastal areas of Camps Bay, Clifton, Llandudno, Bantry Bay, Hout Bay and Blouberg surround the breathtaking tranquility of the winelands, Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek.

A city of culture, built on a history that reflects in the architecture, cuisine, music and dance. Together with a warm summer and temperate winter climate and a friendly community, the Western Cape and the Mother City are an ideal holiday destination throughout the year.

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Western Cape in the summer

Start Date : End January

End Date: February

Duration: 13 days

Cost: On request

Please Note: The dates can be changed to fit your time schedule. The cost could change for international visitors due to entrance fee costs. We will arrange your flights from any airport in South Africa so, your first day will be altered. Minimum 4 people per trip.

Cape Town

This trip not only includes Cape Town, but also all the fantastic places the Western Cape has to offer during the summer months. February is a very busy and pretty month in the Cape. So the trip will also include many visits to farms and areas that will highlight the fruit picking season. We will also be driving through many of the Cape’s unknown mountain passes. In summer, the days are long, balmy and warm, so it allows even more time to experience the beauty of this area. The trip includes 2 flights and transfers to ensure the traveling distances are manageable.

Day 1: Distance for the day: 100 km

Guest will be picked up from their homes, and transferred to OR Tambo airport. Time for the pickup, transfer and flight will be confirmed closer to the date. It will be around 07h30. Depart on the domestic flight around 10h00, from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Enjoy the flight to Cape Town, where your host will be waiting for you on arrival around 12h00. Depart from the airport on a scenic drive to the city. Our first activity on the trip will be to visit Table Mountain (weather permitting and own account). We will use the aerial cableway to go to the top of the mountain, (and down) with its spectacular views of the Cape. A light lunch will also be enjoyed at the top. Guest will have time to walk along the pathways offering great views of different parts of Cape Town. After the visit to one of the 7 wonders of the world, we will then drive to Signal Hill to get a different view of the Cape. Form here it’s a short drive to check in at the Leeuwenvoet Guesthouse in Tamboerskloof, which is very central to Cape Town. We will be here for 3 nights. Dinners will be at various restaurants in Cape Town.

Day 2: 08h00. Distance for the day: 250 km

When in Cape Town, one must do the Peninsula route. And that is what today is set out for, with many lovely photo stops along the route. We travel along the Atlantic Seaboard to Bantry Bay, Clifton and Camps Bay to view the 12 Apostles, towards Hout Bay, Then we set off via the spectacular Chapman’s Peak road towards Cape Point. Guests will be taken up (and down) to the viewpoint with a Funicular car. The scenic drive now continues on the False Bay side, towards Simon’s Town, where we will also visit the African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach. The drive then continues via small the harbour suburbs / towns of Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay and Muizenberg. We return to the guesthouse via Newlands and Rondebosch

Day 3: 09h00. Distance for the day: 100 km

During the morning we will visit the city attractions, driving through many of the attractive suburbs, and visit the National Museum and Art Gallery in the Gardens, the Parliament precinct, Greenmarket Square, and the Bo-Kaap area. We will then drive towards the Waterfront region, where guest will have time to visit the attractions in their own free time. This can include the Aquarium, a trip to Robben Island, (must pre book, and for own account) the Blue and Red arts and craft sheds, the Clock Tower precinct, and many interesting shops all over the Waterfront. We will meet again at an agreed time, to enjoy dinner before returning in to the guesthouse.

Day 4: Tuesday 26 January: 09h00. Distance for the day: 300 km

We are off towards the more rural areas of the Cape today. The scenic drive will take us via the towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, where we will visit some of the museums and its popular tourist spots. On route, we will start driving through the fruit growing areas, where we will see the harvesting of grapes, peaches, pears, apples, berries, various other vegetables and fruits, and more. We then drive over the Franschhoek Pass towards Villiersdorp, where we visit the well know Elliot art gallery. The next part of the route takes us through a fantastic agricultural valley towards the Breedekloof valley and Worcester. We drive along this lovely green valley towards Robertson and Ashton, and arrive in Montagu, where we will stay over for the next 3 night’s at the charming Montagu Country Hotel. It is conveniently located in the center of town, and easy to walk to any of the lovely attractions in town.

Day 5: 09h00. Distance for the day: 100 km

Rouxvil

Today we will do a lovely drive towards the Keisie Valley, through the Burger’s pass. We then go on a very scenic tractor ride up the Langkloof Mountain to view the various Protea species growing high up in the mountain. It certainly is a memorable trip, and photographers delight. Returning again via the Burgers Pass, we will then visit the Montagu dried fruit factory, and some of the museums in town. There will be enough time left in the day to wander around town.

Day6: 09h00. Distance for the day: 100 km

Montagu is also very close the Ashton, Robertson and Bonnievale, which forms part of the Robertson and Breede River wine routes. At this time of the year all the farms are very colourful, and the harvesting of fruit and grapes will be taking place. We drive along various farm routes and along the Breede River to explore the beauty of the area. We then also visit some wine farms, art galleries and farm stalls in the area. It is a relaxing and colourful drive.

Day 7: 08h30. Distance for the day: 300 km

A real highlight of the tour is a scenic drive towards Cape Agulhas. Today we travel via Stormsvlei to Bredasdorp and Struisbaai to the southernmost point of Africa, at L’Agulhas. We drive around these towns, taking in the long stretches of beach, visit the Lighthouse and Maritime museum. It is a beautiful area, and we spend quality time here. On the return trip, we visit the famous Kapula Candles and Julien’s Pottery Galleries in Bredasdorp. We undertake tours of their facilities to see how these wonderful pieces of artwork are crafted. We also visit the Shipwreck Museum in town, the only such museum in the southern hemisphere. We continue the last part of the day travelling towards the Skeiding Guest Farm, near the town of Heidelberg. Again, we check in for another 3 night’s stay.

Day 8: 10h00. Distance for the day: 100 km

Scrumptious meals in South Africa

Skeiding is a mixed agricultural farm, focusing on the farming of sheep, ostrich, cattle, wheat, canola, lucerne and coriander. For those interested, a very informative farm tour will be done before breakfast. Then, after enjoying a hearty farm breakfast, we do a short scenic drive via Suurbraak towards the town of Swellendam, where we visit the Drostdy Museum and the Wildebraam berry farm. We will enjoy lunch in town, followed by a visit the Bontebok National Park. It is only a short drive back to the farm and time to relax, and enjoy the vistas from the veranda.

Day 9: Distance for the day: 100 km

Today we will be travelling on three lovely mountain passes. We firstly travel along the Tradouw pass towards the town of Barrydale. Enjoy walking around this artistic town, before we continue along a part of route 62, through the Huismanskloof pass, towards Ladysmith, where we will enjoy lunch. We return to the farm via the Garcia Pass, Riversdal and Heidelberg. It is a lovely drive.

Day 10: 08h30. Distance for the day: 300 km

From one farm to another, via some more scenic routes. We travel via the N2 road towards Albertinia, where we visit an Aloe Ferox factory. We then arrive in the coastal town of Mosselbay, where we spend some time visiting the beachfront area, and the wonderful Diaz Museum complex, and enjoy lunch. We drive up Robinson Pass towards Oudshoorn and arrive at De Denne Guest Farm for the last 3 nights stay. De Denne Guest Farm is a working ostrich, sheep and lucerne farm situated on the outskirts of town, with lovely views of the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountain ranges.

Day 11: 08h30. Distance for the day: 200 km

Die Tuishuise

We will be driving along an unknown route today, namely the Red Rock Mountain Route. The first part of the drive is towards De Rust, where we enter the Meiringspoort pass. We drive through this fantastic pass meandering through the Swartberg Pass alongside the river. We then enjoy coffee at a very scenic spot along the route, before we return towards De Rust, where guests will have time to explore this charming little town on foot. Then we follow the Oude Murargie road, alongside the Swartberg and red rock formations. This is where we will have a comfort stop, before continuing the route via more lovely valleys, seeing the wonderful red rock formations which are only found in a small part of the mountain. We then join the road close to Calitzdorp, and return to the farm in the late afternoon. Again it is a wonderful scenic drive.

Day 12: 09h00: Distance for day: 30 km

Today is a much more relaxed day, starting off with a very informative tour of a working ostrich farm. This is then followed with a short drive towards the town of Oudshoorn, where we visit some of the historical sights, and the museum. (For those interested, we can also do some wine and/or chocolate tasting). After enjoying lunch in town, we travel back to the farm for an afternoon of relaxation.

Day 13: 08h30: Distance for day: 150 km

Our last day includes some lovely highlights as well, such as travelling over the Outeniqua Mountain Pass, and visiting the Hops farming areas. It is harvesting time, and lovely to view the way it is processed. After last cup of coffee, we then drive through the town of George toward the airport, for the return flight to Johannesburg. It will be around 13h30. You will again be met at the airport, and transferred home.

Western Cape in the summer

Included

Accommodation

2 meals per day

Vehicle and Tourist guide fee

Entrance fees

2 flight tickets

2 transfers

Excluded

Drinks

Lunch

Gratuities

Laundry

Telephone calls

Curios

Personal items

Table Mountain entrance fees

Robben Island fees

Any extra activities that is not on this Itinerary

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Explore Cape Town Day Tour

Let us explore this beautiful city and its surrounding areas for the day on a private tour in an air-conditioned vehicle that has space & comfort. This tour is excellent for small groups or family groups that have little time in Cape Town but wish to see as much as possible from sunrise to sunset. We can end the day with a dinner at the V & A Waterfront.

Boulders beach penguins

The Castle

Numerous various attractions can be visited and these are normally off the beaten track and combinations can be done to include Cape Point, wine yards, Castle of Good Hope, museums, Bo-Kaap, whatever you found on google concerning Cape Town, we can put a tour together and see if we have enough time in one day to visit as many of the places you need a photo of.

To explore Cape Town, you must try some of the finest food & wine that will compete favorably with the finest in the world. We can for lunch visit any of the many restaurant’s in and around Cape Town or, try a typical cultural lunch such as a “Boerie Roll” or “Cape Malay Curry”. If you want to visit some of the beaches and take a walk, we can do so.

Table mountain

Costs are on request due to the variety of tourist points that can be visited on this tour.

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Historical Wine Tour

Depart from Cape Town to visit attractions you want to see in one day.

Jan van Riebeeck

South Africa’s wine history and in particular Cape Town, this early history was recorded by the Dutch East India Company to the Cape of Good Hope to start a supply station that must provide vitamin C reach fruit & vegetable to prevent “Scurvy” that was rampant among the sailors passing Cape point on their way to India. The “Spice Route”.

Jan van Riebeeck was given the task of managing the station and planting vineyards to produce wine and grapes for ships passing the Cape however, it was in 1685, another Cape Governor, Simon van der Stel, purchased a large 1,850 acre (750 hectare) estate, founding what later became the world-renowned Constantia wine estate. In the 19th century, the British colony caused the wine industry to flourish due to large exports to Europe and England. This prosperity lasted until the 1860s when the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty signed by the Palmerston government and France reduced the preferential tariffs that benefited South African wine in favour of French wine exports.

In the late 19th century, the outbreak of phylloxera and caused an epidemic and many vineyards were replanted with high yielding grape varieties such as Cinsaut. By the early 1900s there was a large glut of wine, creating a wine lake effect which led some producers to pour their unsaleable wine into local rivers and streams. The depressed prices caused by this out-of-balance supply and demand dynamic prompted the South African government to fund the formation of the Koöperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika Bpkt (KWV) in 1918. Initially started as a co-operative, the KWV soon grew in power and prominence, setting policies and prices for the entire South African wine industry. To deal with the wine glut the KWV restricted yields and set minimum prices, encouraging the production of brandy and fortified wines.

Franschoek

Typical winery in South Africa

During the apartheid era, the wine industry in South Africa received very little attention due to sanctions. Its isolation was further deepened by boycotts of South African products in protest at the country’s apartheid system.It wasn’t until the late 1980,s and 1990’s when apartheid was ended and the world’s export market opened up that South African wines began to experience a renaissance. With a steep learning curve, many producers in South Africa quickly adopted new viti-cultural and wine making technologies. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are today still world renowned wine and one can buy this world wide. The reorganization of the powerful KWV co-operative into a private business further sparked innovation and improvement in quality. Vineyard owners had previously relied on KWV’s price-fixing structure, that bought their excess grapes for distillation. Now they had to shift their focus to quality wine production in order to compete. In 1990, less than 30% of all the grapes harvested were used for wine aimed at the consumer market, with the remaining 70% being discarded, distilled into brandy or sold as table grapes and juice. By 2003 these proportions had reversed, with more than 70% of the grapes harvested that year reaching the consumer market as wine.

Come with us and visit Constantia Wine Estate and learn about the history of our magnificent wines. You can actually taste it. We can also visit some of the museums.

Costs are on request

Depart from Cape Town to visit Constantia Vineyards. Perhaps let us arrange a nice picnic or dinner. Costs not included.

Excluded

Entry fees

Please note: Depart as arranged and bookings must be done for this tour.

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Jewish History

Jews have been a part of South Africa’s development from the very beginning. Portuguese Jewish cartographers and scientists contributed to Vasco Da Gama’s discovery of the Cape of Good Hope in 1497. A number of non-professing Jews were among the first settlers of Cape Town in 1652, despite restrictions against the immigration of non-Christians. The earliest evidence of Jews in Capetown comes from a record of the baptism of two Jewish men living in the Western Cape on Christmas day in 1669. Until the early 1800’s, only a few Jews came to South Africa as a part of the Dutch East India Company, which required that all its employees and colonists be Protestant.

Jewish museum

Religious freedom was granted by the Dutch colony in 1803 and guaranteed by the British in 1806. Among the first British settlers to come to Cape Town were 20 Jews. The first South African Jewish congregation was founded in 1841 when 17 men gathered to form a minyan at the home of Benjamin Norden, Helmsley Place. Eight years later, the first synagogue, Tikvat Israel (“Hope of Israel” – referring to the Cape of Good Hope) was established in Cape Town and is still standing today. Over the next three decades, British Jewish immigrants established additional synagogues, as well as cemeteries and other philanthropic institutions.

Cape Town

Jewish immigrants from Germany and Holland arrived in Cape Town in the early 19th century seeking fortune and adventure. Some choose to join the Boers on their Great Trek into South Africa’s hinterland and some traveled into Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe and Zambia). The Jews began building a commercial infrastructure for the Boer farmers and set up trading stations in villages and at railway sidings, which soon became local business centers. A credit system was established by the Jews to finance new industries. In the 1840’s, Jews developed shipping, fishing and coastal trading and sugar enterprises. Jews were also active in the production of wine, clothing and steel.

This tour cost is an request and the itinerary is very flexible to include a cemetery visit and any other Jewish history place in Cape Town.

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Cape Malay History Tour

Kaapse Klopse

The Cape Malay community is an ethnic group or community in South Africa. It derives its name from the present-day Western Cape of South Africa and the people originally from Maritime Southeast Asia, mostly Javanese from modern-day Indonesia (largely speakers of Malayu, hence the name Malay), a Dutch colony for several centuries, and Dutch Malacca,[1] which the Dutch held from 1641 – 1824.[2] The community’s earliest members were enslaved Javanese transported by the Dutch East India Company.[3] They were followed by slaves from various other Southeast Asian regions, and political dissidents and Muslim religious leaders who opposed the Dutch presence in what is now Indonesia and were sent into exile. Malays also have significant South Asian (Indian) slave ancestry.[4] Starting in 1654, these resistors were imprisoned or exiled in South Africa by the Dutch East India Company, which founded and used what is now Cape Town as a resupply station for ships travelling between Europe and Asia. They were the group that first introduced Islam to South Africa.

Cape Malay cuisine

With the Cape Malay History Tour, you visit and experience the Cape Malay of today in the world’s number one tourist hot spot. The Cape Malay, an ethnic group or community in South Africa that derive their name from today’s Western Cape. These people, originally from Maritime in Southeast Asia, mostly Javanese from modern day Indonesia and largely people that spoke Malayu (Malay).

The Dutch held the Cape for several centuries till 1824 and during this time some of the earliest people were enslaved Javanese brought to the Cape. They were followed by people from various other Southeast Asian regions, and political dissidents and Muslim religious leaders who opposed the Dutch presence in what is now Indonesia and were sent into exile. Malays also have significant South Asian (Indian) slave ancestry. Starting in 1654, these resistors were imprisoned or exiled in South Africa by the Dutch East India Company, which founded and used what is now Cape Town as a resupply station for ships travelling between Europe and Asia. They were the group that first introduced Islam to South Africa.

Today, these people are a proud community in South Africa and bring a cultural history to the people of the Cape. The “Kaapse Klopse” over new years’ is a sight to see and you the visitor will be enthralled with the history of the Cape Malay. This is an interesting tour and combine this with a night or two in a Cape Malay Bed & Breakfast. Experience Cape Malay cuisine and culture on your doorstep.

Costs are on request

We visit the Bokaap museum as well as the Castle of Good Hope.

Excluded

Entry fees

Please note: Depart as arranged and bookings must be done for this tour.

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Dutch history

Jan van Riebeeck arrival

The Castle

On 7 April 1652, the Dutch East India Company under command of Johan Anthoniszoon van Riebeeck, born 21 April 1619 in Culemborg, arrived with three ships called the Reijger, Goede Hoop and Drommedaris in the rough seas at Cape point. What probably sparked the Dutch interest in the Cape of Good Hope is a previous ship in 1647, the ship Niewe Haerlem was ship wrecked in Table Bay. After a year, a Dutch ship fetched the survivors, one of which, Leendert Janszen, upon his return to Holland, wrote a report on establishing a refreshment station in the Cape. Jan Van Riebeek as commander established the station between the foot of Table Mountain, and the shores of Table Bay. The first fort was built of wood by the sailors of the first ship that sunk. Jan van Riebeeck was charged with building a fort and improving the natural anchorage at Table Bay, planting cereals,fruit and vegetables and obtaining livestock from the indigenous Khoi people.

Work on the Castle of Good Hope, the first permanent European fortification in the area, began in 1666. The new castle replaced the previous wooden fort that Van Riebeeck and his men built. Finally completed in 1679, the castle is the oldest building in South Africa.

Jan van Riebeeck

Simon van der Stel, after whom the town of Stellenbosch is named, arrived in 1679 to replace Van Riebeeck as governor. Van der Stel founded the Cape wine industry by bringing grape vines with him on his ship, an industry which would quickly grow to be important for the region. He also promoted territorial expansion in the Colony.

The fort and wine lands are part of the Dutch history in Cape Town and well worth a visit by our Dutch visitors who wish to learn more of the history, colonial architecture, colonial life and the eventual conflict that gripped this part of the world. Conflict between the Dutch, Khoi, British and later, the Xhosa people takes you back into the historical past of colonial life and wars that gripped South Africa until 1994 when the first democratic elections happened.

Join us, hear and see the history of the Dutch when they were a powerhouse on the world and controlled the sea routes to the east.

Costs are on request

We visit Cape Town city, the Castle of Good Hope and some of the wine lands for a nice glass of red wine an afternoon with a late lunch or early dinner.

Excluded

Entry fees, water.

Please note: Depart as arranged and bookings must be done for this tour.

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Our day tours in Cape Town are done through Wayne Milne. Wayne is a member of the Hola Tourism Network, a registered Tourist Guide & accredited wine specialist. He is an excellent Guide with a fantastic personality. He has been doing our day tours in the Cape for the past 10 years and our guests always come back with a positive response.